Jason, 42-year-old father of two children, has been fighting back pain for weeks. By scrolling your phone, he sees an advertisement after a promising relief: chiropractic alignment, acupuncture, rear orthodontic apparatus, vibrating massage pistols and herbal patches.
His general doctor told him to “remain dynamic”, but what does this mean when every movement hurts? Jason wants to avoid mighty painkillers and surgery, but with so many options (and opinions) it is complex to know what works and what is only a marketing noise.
If Jason’s experience sounds familiar, you are not alone. Back pain is one of the most common reasons why people visit a doctor. Management, mainly due to widespread misunderstandings and overwhelming number ineffective and uncertain promoted treatments.
We assessed the best available evidence for non -surgery and non -surgical treatment to relieve the lower back pain. Our review – Published today by the independent international group The Cochrane Collaboration – includes 31 systematic Cochrane reviews, covering 97,000 people with back pain.
This can be seen Rest beds does not work for back pain. Some treatments that work may depend on how long you felt pain.
Can back pain be earnest?
There are different types of lower back pain. Maybe:
- be compact -lived, lasting less than six weeks (acute back pain)
- It will stay a little longer, for six to twelve weeks (subacute)
- Stay for months or even years (chronic, defined as over 12 weeks).
IN Most cases (90-95%), back pain is not specific and cannot be reliably associated with a specific cause or underlying disease. This includes joint structural changes noticeable in X -rays and MRI spine.
For this reason, back imaging is Just Recommended in sporadic situations – usually when there is a clear suspicion of earnest back problems, for example after physical injury or when numbness or loss of feelings in the groin or legs occurs.
Many people expect to receive painkillers In the case of back pain and even surgery, but these are no longer the options for treating first line due to constrained benefits and high risk of damage.
International Clinical guidelines Recommend people who choose non -surgical and non -surgical treatment to relieve pain, improve the function and reduce the suffering commonly associated with back pain.
So what works for different types of pain? Here’s what Our review has found When scientists compared this treatment with standard care (typical treatment, they usually receive) or without treatment.
Which helps in compact -term back pain
1. Be dynamic – don’t rest in bed
If back pain is modern, the best advice is also the simplest: move despite the pain.
Changing the way you move and exploit your body to protect or rest in bed may seem to be the right way to respond to pain – and it can even be recommended in the past. However, we know that this excessive protective behavior can make it complex to return to significant actions.
This does not mean pushing by pain or hitting the gym, but instead try to keep ordinary routines as much as possible. Evidence suggests that this will not worsen your pain and can improve it.
2. Multidisciplinary care if the pain remains
In the case of pain lasting six to 12 weeks, multidisciplinary treatment will probably reduce pain compared to standard care.
This applies to the coordinated team of doctors, physiotherapists and psychologists working together to remedy many factors contributing to back pain:
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Neurophysiological influences relate to how the nervous system currently processes pain. It can make you more sensitive to signals from movements, thoughts, feelings and the environment
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Psychological factors include how your thoughts, feelings and behaviors affect your pain system, and ultimately the experience of pain
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Professional factors include the physical requirements of your work and how good you can deal with them, as well as aspects such as low job satisfaction, all of which can contribute to constant pain.
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What works for chronic back pain
When the pain lasts over 12 weeks, it can be more complex to treat. But relief is still possible.
Exercise therapy
Exercises – especially programs adapted to your needs and preferences – will probably reduce pain and aid you move better. This may include oxygen activity, strength training or pilates -based movements.
It seems that it does not matter what type of exercise you do – it matters more that you are consistent and you have an adequate level of supervision, especially early.
Multidisciplinary treatment
As in the case of compact -term pain, coordinated care includes a mix of physical, professional and psychological approaches, probably works better than ordinary care.
Psychological therapies
Psychological therapies regarding chronic pain include approaches to aid people change thinking, feelings, behaviors and reactions that can maintain persistent pain.
These approaches will probably reduce pain, although they may not be so effective in improving physical function.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture probably reduces pain and improves how well you can function compared to placebo or lack of treatment.
While a certain debate remains about how it works, evidence suggests potential benefits for some people with chronic back pain.

Katherine Hanlon/Unsplash
What does not work or still does not augment uncertainty?
The review has shown that many commonly advertised treatment methods still have uncertain benefits or probably do not benefit people with back pain.
For example, the manipulation of the spine has uncertain benefits in acute and chronic back pain and probably does not improve how well you function if you have a acute back pain.
Traction, which includes stretching of the spine with weight or pulley, probably does not aid in chronic back pain. Despite the popularity in some circles, there is little evidence that it works.
There is not enough reliable data to determine whether advertised treatments – such rear orthodontic apparatus, vibrating massage pistols and herbal slices – are effective.
How can you exploit the arrangements?
If you have back pain, start by thinking how long you have. Then examine the treatment options that tests support and discuss them with a family doctor, psychologist or physiotherapist.
Your healthcare supplier should serene you about the importance of gradually increasing your activity to resume significant work, social and life activities. They should also support you in making informed decisions which treatments are most suitable for you at this stage.